Today’s Cartoon: Jim Flaherty

That's all, folks

Patrick Lamontagne

Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty announced his resignation this week as the federal government's finance minister. In today's cartoon, illustrator Patrick Lamontagne humorously suggests that Mr. Flaherty just wants to be able to shop for shoes without media following his every step, a clever reference to the tradition of finance ministers purchasing new shoes on the eve of delivering budgets.

Whitby-Oshawa MP and federal finance minister Jim Flaherty took a lot of people by surprise with his announcement this week that he would be resigning his cabinet post and vital role as the No. 2 person in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’ Conservative government.

He was the only person to serve in the role with this government until this week when a successor was named. Under his watch Mr. Flaherty presided over the introduction of new tax-sheltered savings schemes, cut the GST and other taxes, helped bail out struggling auto companies, and has been universally lauded for his oversight of Canada’s finances during the height of the financial crisis in 2008.

In today’s cartoon, illustrator Patrick Lamontagne takes a humorous look at Mr. Flaherty’s big announcement, who suggests in the cartoon panel that he just wants to be a Regular Joe once again, free to shop for life's little necessities without the media following his every move.

The reference to new shoes reflects the tradition of finance ministers purchasing a sturdy new pair on the eve of delivering a budget. There is no budget to deliver -- Mr. Flaherty did so last month -- but Mr. Lamontagne’s effort provides a nice and tidy image that reflects directly on the minister’s many years of service in the finance portfolio.

Now, presumably, the Whitby-Oshawa MP will be free to shop unencumbered in his home riding.